French leave no doubt as to stance on cup proposal

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Jonny Wilkinson lifted the Heineken Cup with Toulon in May but rival competition could lead to its demisePaul Harding/Action Images

Mark SousterRugby Correspondent

Last updated at 12:01AM, September 23 2013

The war of words that has marked the dispute over the future of the European
Cup continued last night, with the English and French clubs maintaining they
were close to establishing a new competition and that they had received
genuine interest from their counterparts in Wales, Ireland and Scotland to
join.

The identity of those clubs had to remain confidential, according to Quentin
Smith, the chairman of Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL), but he was optimistic that a
format for the competition, to be called the Rugby Champions Cup, could be
finalised as early as next month.